In recent years, the misuse, addiction, and overdose of opioids has grown to epidemic levels at the national, state, and local levels. Kentucky is no exception, with its opioid epidemic ranking among the worst in the nation. As of 2016, Kentucky ranked fifth among states with the highest number of drug overdose related deaths. With 33.5 deaths occurring per 100,00 people, the state experienced a 142% increase from 2010.

Significant action has been taken by a multitude of stakeholders in response to this epidemic. A prominent force has been the work completed as part of the Kentucky Opioid Response Effort (KORE). KORE is part of the Opioid State Targeted Response (STR) grants, created by the 21st Century Cures Act and administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The purpose of KORE is to implement a comprehensive targeted response to Kentucky’s opioid crisis by expanding access to a full continuum of high quality, evidence-based opioid prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction services and supports in high-risk geographic regions of the state. Earlier this year, the Kentuckiana Health Collaborative (KHC) began a project in partnership with KORE to increase awareness and utilization of Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) among primary care providers as a means of addressing unhealthy substance use among their patient populations.

SBIRT is public health approach to identifying and intervening with patients who are participating in risky substance use behaviors. As a system change initiative, SBIRT challenges traditional approaches to identifying and intervening with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) by viewing behaviors, problems, and interventions on a continuum. SBIRT focuses on reaching the 15%-25% of the population who are excessively using substances, while still intervening with the 5% needing traditional treatment and positively reinforcing behaviors of the 75%-85% who are abstinent/responsibly using. The bulk of health, social, and economic costs associated with substance use are associated with excessive use rather than addiction or substance use disorders. By addressing the population excessively using, primary care providers can negate the negative effects of these costs and prevent the progression of substance use behaviors. There is substantial evidence for the use of SBIRT in reducing risky behaviors related to alcohol, and its application for opioid use is accumulating and promising.

The KHC has developed a toolkit, titled “Screening Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) – Addressing Unhealthy Substance Use in Primary Care Settings” that is being distributed to over 4,000 primary care providers and 400 group practice managers throughout the state of Kentucky. The KHC will also be holding a complementary webinar on Wednesday, October 10, 2018. Webinar registration and additional information can be found here.

SBIRT is a practical and promising approach to addressing the growing opioid epidemic in Kentucky. Join us in learning more about this initiative and encouraging its adoption throughout the Commonwealth.

Coding and performance measures have never been more critical to the financial and clinical success of a physician. The Kentuckiana Health Collaborative (KHC), in conjunction with the Greater Louisville Medical Society, is presenting community-based education for physicians and practice managers on The Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS).

The KHC provides annual reports to more than 1,000 clinicians in Greater Louisville on the quality of care their patients receive for a variety of clinical areas using HEDIS measures. These reports allow providers to benchmark their own data to a community average and benchmark. Additionally, HEDIS measures are used by more than 90 percent of health plans nationwide to measure performance on important dimensions of care and service.

During this session you will gain a better understanding of what HEDIS measures are, how they are related to your daily patient care and practice operations, and which factors determine whether or not a patient will be included in your score for a measure. You will also learn how coding impacts scores and how HEDIS data can improve practice patterns and patient care. Sessions will give practical examples based on key measures and patient populations.

The sessions will be led by Sharon Murphy, BSN, RN, CHCQM, ALNCC. Sharon has years of experience in quality of care management, including areas such as evaluation and recommendations based on peer-reviewed literature and guidelines, initiatives and work plans for improvement, oversight, and NCQA recognition.

Please see the information below for dates and registration. Physicians and Practice Managers are invited to attend a 60-minute webinar or a 90-minute classroom session. Attendees may choose from one of multiple session times being offered. There will be a free email Q&A service available for seven days following attendance at one of the seminars.

Seats are limited for the live session. Click here to Register for one of the below sessions at by Monday, November 11th.

More than 1,000 clinicians in Greater Louisville received their 6th annual Consolidated Measurement report on the quality of care their patients received in the following clinical areas of focus: 1) diabetes, 2) breast cancer screening, 3) acute low back pain, 4) upper respiratory infection, 5) pharyngitis, and 6) bronchitis. This report allows physicians and nurse practitioners to compare their own data to the community average and benchmark.